Recap and Review: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, Episodes 1-3

Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power picks up with an intensity that promises a darker and more intricate journey into the world of Middle-earth. The first three episodes—titled “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” “Shadows of the East,” and “The Dwarven Dilemma”—delve into political intrigues, brewing conflicts, and a sense of impending doom as the shadow of Sauron looms ever larger.

Here’s a recap of the key events from the first three episodes and a review of the season’s early trajectory.

Episode 1: “Elven Kings Under the Sky”

The season opens with a flashback into how Sauron survived his execution and became Halbrand. After an unconvincing speech to the Orcs of Forodwaith They decided they would prefer to follow Adar who would not use them to achieve the ends Sauron would. After his body being destroyed by the countless slashes and cuts of the Orcs blades Sauron’s spirit let out an almighty screech forever changing the landscape to a frozen wasteland. As his blood dripped into the depths of the fortress an organism still survived and after feeding on rodents and bugs it gained enough strength to move. It then escaped the fortress, twisting and rolling until it found its way to a path. Here it involuntarily hitchhiked a ride and consumed the driver to become the body in the image that we now know as Halbrand.

Fast forward to the present and a ferocious horse chase as both Elrond and Galadriel race towards Lindon with the newly crafted rings. Elrond has possession of them and is seeking the High King Gil-galad with whom he will know what to do. As they arrive in Lindon Elrond encourages Galadriel to explain to the High King who Halbrand truly is. With much hesitation Galadriel reveals that he is the deceiver Sauron, yet claims he had no influence on the crafting of these rings. Elrond expecting the High King to dispose of these rings is immediately taken back when instead he wishes to use them to help save their race and stop it from falling into decay. Elrond jumps straight into a waterfall to escape with the rings so that they can be destroyed and sought out the oldest and wisest Elf among their kind.

Círdan the Shipwright, who was once known as Nowë had been there since before the first age and may have even been kin to Elwë. His home was the grey havens and the passages into the open sea. Whilst the Elven warriors arrived to look for Elrond he and Círdan agreed a plan to put the rings into the great depths of the sea. Elrond returns to Lindon with Galadriel. When in the sea Círdan is about to dispose of the rings but catches a glimpse of one, and astonished by its beauty he is unable to cast it away.

Meanwhile Halbrand has handed himself over to the Adar and the orcs who have no idea of his real identity. He claims to have information regarding the return of Sauron and wish to use this information as leverage in negotiation. Adar whilst sceptical does not kill him, but intends to torture the information out of him. Halbrand endures the torture and is eventually released with Adar instructing his orcs to follow him.

Nori and The Stranger journey eastward, encountering mysterious figures who seem to know The Stranger’s true identity. The Stranger is having dreams about where he needs to be, although he does not know how to get there, he just intends to keep heading east. He is also struggling to control his powers although he does manage to rustle up some creepy crawlies to eat. Nori is missing her fellow Harfoots but is reunited with Poppy who decided to follow Nori and The Stranger. They are also being spied upon by some strange looking creatures.

The episode closes in Lindon where the Elves are sing a beautiful but sad melody about the end of their time and power on middle-earth. Then Círdan walks in wearing Narya, the red ring also known as the ring of fire. As he hands the other two rings over to Gil-Galad, Nenya the ring of Adamant, also known as the ring of water falls and bounces of the steps in front of the feet of Galadriel. She stoops to pick it up and places it on her finger. Gil=Galad receives Vilya, the blue ring, also known as the ring of air. As the three ring barrers place the rings on their fingers, The Great Tree which had been dying starts to change colour and turns into a bright gold, reminiscent of Ormal.

Episode 2: “Shadows of the East“

This episode opens with Galadriel and Elrond arguing, with Elrond frustrated with how easily she had been manipulated by Sauron and now the same was happening to Gil-galad.

Next, we finally get to revisit the dwarves. Having fallen out with his father Durin III, Durin IV has lost his princely status, causing damage to both his financial wealth and reputation. He can be seen with his wife Disa at the market buying food. They are discussing the need to keep their spending down when a sudden earthquake occurs. This leads to much internal damage to the Dwarven realm, the giant bridge collapses and the light tunnels close, which is used to grow their food, causing the city to be shrouded in darkness.

Switching back to Galadriel, she is having a hallucination in which she is in conversation with Celebrimbor, who is discussing his interesting visitor. Suddenly vines begin to grow out of the ground, they creep and curl their way around Celebrimbor. As the scene turns red, he states.

“Three Rings for the Elven-Kings under the sky, seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, nine for mortal men doomed to die.”

As Galadriel returns from her hallucination to the present, she hears that it would be wise to attack Adar from the east. Galadriel believes that they should attack from the west. After the meeting is adjourned, she stays behind to relay her concerns that Sauron has already gotten to Eregion. Gil-galad believes Eregion’s defences are capable of keeping Sauron out. Galadriel informs Gil-galad that her ring is giving her visions of potential futures. He explains that his ring is also granting him visions, warning Galadriel to never seek out Sauron. She believes that it is her destiny to face Sauron, and it is her alone who can slay him. They come to a compromise where she can face Sauron, if she has someone with her.

Now we switch to Eregion, where the last episode closed with a visitor at the gates. Sauron, still in the guise of Halbrand is waiting patiently, only to be told that Celebrimbor will not have an audience with him, and he should leave.

The episode now turns to the east of middle-earth to the region of Rhûn, where we are introduced to a new Dark Wizard character. He is nameless yet purposefully dressed like Saruman. A blood ritual is performed and there is a return from the lead witch from the previous season, who informs the Dark Wizard of Sauron’s gaining power. The Dark Wizard is concerned that The Stranger will soon harness his power to with the masked man who had been tracking The Stranger and the Harfoots in the previous episode, believes he can retrieve The Stranger. The Dark Wizard doubts his capability of accomplishing this as a mortal. We then seen Nori and Poppy trying to help The Stranger remember his name. Suddenly, they hear horse’s hooves and scatter and hide from the new danger.
Returning to Khazad-dûm, the plants have been killed from the removal of the light. This has significantly depleted the food resources of the dwarves which are taking them to the brink of starvation. Disa berates the king for not speaking to his son, whilst her and her husband argue as they are struggling with the lack of food and his new status.

Back to Elrond and a continuation of the opening scene. He is in the Grey Havens, sanding wood whilst Galadriel is trying to convince him to join her in journeying to Eregion. He is reluctant to aid her, even though she admits to being deceived by Sauron, however Elrond does not believe she was as far out of her own control as she believes. He seeks the advice of Círdan, whom he respects for his wisdom. Círdan reassures Elrond that beautiful things should not be feared, even if they possess power.

Heading back to the Harfoots in the east, they managed to locate a well when they were desperate for water. The well is fitted with an alarm contraption to it so that whenever water is raised from it, it rings out, giving away their location. The stranger finds a staff, which he has been having dreams about. Shortly after this the Easterlings hunting them arrive. In an attempt to protect them, The Strange summons a huge sandstorm, however unable to fully control his power this blows away Nori and Poppy as well as the hunters.

Returning to Eregion, Halbrand/Sauron is still awaiting an audience with Celebrimbor. Celebrimbor descends to the gates to tell him to leave. With a few words he manages to convince Celebrimbor to allow him in, by piquing his curiosity. Celebrimbor is quite emotional but jubilant at the three rings saving the race of Elves and expelling the sickness from the tree. Halbrand/Sauron tells Celebrimbor to make rings for the race of men, however he is reluctant due to Men not being Elves. Then Halbrand/Sauron plays his hand, disappearing into the furnace and remerging as Annatar, The Sharer of Gifts. Celebrimbor, completely compelled by his power and emergence believes he was sent from the Valar.

The episode’s closing scene is between Gil-galad and Galadriel. The High Kind tells her that she is permitted to go to see Celebrimbor on the condition that she takes the five bravest elves with her. When thanking Gil-galad, he explains that this was not his doing, as the camera shows Elrond behind him, it is Elrond who is tasked with leading the group, not Galadriel.

Episode 3: “The Dwarven Dilemma“

Episode 3 opens with Elendil trying to get his son’s horse Berek onto a ship so that he can return to Númenor. Berek refuses and runs off to find his former master Isildur. Berek enters a desolate, burned town where Orcs spring out to capture him. He escapes by running into the Black Forest. Berek finds a cave in which clicking can be heard. He finds Isildur wrapped up in spider’s web. There are squelching sounds and as Isildur looks up he can see spider eggs all over the ceiling. An egg hatches and a spider squirms down towards him. It is unknown if this is Shelob or a relative but there is a reflection between this and the scenes from The Return of the King. Isildur does manage to escape.

We now go to Númenor, where there is a funeral for the deceased king. Eärien, Elendil’s daughter, is upset with her father for refusing to speak his son’s name. Her true rage is at the queen-regent Míriel. She also recalls what the former king had told her in his delirium at the end of the first season about the fall of Númenor. Míriel is not having a great time of it. Having lost her sight in the first season, she is also attacked by a grieving mother at the memorial. However, she does remain calm and embraces the distraught mother. Later, at some point in the evening Míriel is sorting through some of her father’s possessions, she opens a box which contains a golden bracelet. Pharazôn arrives and enquires about what she is doing, he also questions what she is hiding behind her back. She slips the bracelet onto her wrist and replies “nothing”. The conversation moves towards which colour gown she will wear at her coronation. The decision is between white and red, with red representing a new era and the future of Númenor and white remembering the past. She ultimately chooses white as she remembers her father’s coronation, which also had the guest of an eagle being present. Pharazôn believes that it would be rare to have an eagle grace the ceremony.

Valandil, who is Elendil’s lieutenant overhears Pharazôn, his son Kemen, Eärien and another man discussing how they believe due to Míriel’s blindness she is unfit to rule. He interrupts the conversation in defence of the queen, he also threatens Kemen about what will happen if he speaks ill of the queen again. Once he leaves, Eärien is asked to tell the group what she was about to tell them before the interruption. She tells how she found something which is secret and forbidden. Whilst explaining this the scene changes to Míriel twisting the golden bracelet from earlier, it turns into shape of a key which is used to enter through a hidden door. As she climbs a flight of stairs, she enters a room where the palantír should be set, however it is now missing.

The episode now moves to Adar, where one of the Orcs is expressing his concern about going to war. They believe him to be dead, however Adar wants to be certain. The male Orc then goes to a female Orc and a baby Orc to comfort them. We are then introduced to Damrod, who is a Hill-troll of the Erid Mithrin and is demanding Sauron’s location from Adar.

The episode’s next scene is in Eregion and Celebrimbor has invited Durin IV and Disa to discuss with them an opportunity to help save their Kingdom. He can give them aid in the form of magical rings which will help to recover their mountain, the same way it did for the sickened Great Tree of the Elves. The price of this is mithril, which would be used in part to construct the rings. The dwarves are confused as to why this was brought to them and not directly to King Durin III. Celebrimbor acknowledges the king’s reluctance for external assistance. Durin IV explains his own distance from his father. Annatar who had been watching on from the background, steps in to reaffirm this was an opportunity to not only save their kingdom but also receive redemption from his father. Durin IV is curious as to who Annatar is and his explain of a “friend to the Elves” did not satisfy this, he is also wanted to know where Elrond was in all this as he was the one whom had originally came to him to discuss mithril in the previous season. It was explained that his absence was due to his need in Lindon. Durin and Disa leave and are undecided as to whether to pass this information onto the King.

Returning to the forge, Annatar and Celebrimbor are discussing Gil-galad’s permission to craft anymore rings. The Elven High King has forbidden any more rings to be forged and also is not aware of Annatar’s presence in Eregion. Celebrimbor decides to write to Gil-galad and explain the forge is closed and there will be no more crafting there.

The episode now goes back to Isildur, who has been riding for a while, he gets of his horse to drink from a small, not very clean looking pond. As he continues his journey he comes across a camp which has been ravaged with a number of dead bodies surrounding it. As he investigates further a girl leaps out and stabs him in the leg. After a pause they realise the do not mean to harm each other and the girl helps to bind Isildur’s leg. They discuss his destination and he explains he heading to Pelargir, which is an old Númenorean settlement, she joins him on this journey. Further on the way they encounter an old man who appears to be wounded and coming towards the end of his life. Despite the girls warning, Isildur goes to give the man some food. As the man’s hand reaches up the mark of Mordor flashes on his wrist and Isildur realises too late that it is a trap. They are attacked by the Wildmen. However, after some acrobatics and fast firing arrows they are saved by Arondir, whom makes his first appearance of the season. They have a brief exchange before Arondir walks off towards Pelargir and is followed by the two companions. As the scene turns to night, the town is having a funeral for Bronwyn who did not survive the battle in season 1.

Arondir is still trying to do right by Bronwyn and stand by Theo, her son. However his attempts to have any form of heart-to-heart chat are rebuffed as Theo pushes him away. It is clear Arondir is still struggling with the guilt of not being able to protect Bronwyn. Theo seems more comfortable around Isildur, as they are having a conversation about the aqueduct, Theo is in disbelief that men could engineer something like this, Isildur explains that in Númenor they do.

Later into the evening Isildur is around the fire talking with the girl who stabbed him where they are discussing their mothers. Isildur tells the story of his mother’s death, where she gave her life for his to stop him from drowning. This is a secret known only to Isildur as no one knows this, it is guilt he has had to carry around his whole life. The conversation is overheard by Theo who is moved by it. He offers Isildur to come with him, with the destination being the Wildmen who attacked Isildur and stole his horse, Berek. Once he leaves the girl holds her knife into the fire to increase its temperature. When hot enough she lifts her hair which reveals the mark of Mordor on the back of her neck. She takes the hot blade and places it on the mark, screaming out.

The group of Wildmen are gathered around a fire, Isildur sneaks around the encampment to free Berek from them. As they hear the noises coming from the horses they stand to investigate, this is when Theo appears asking if he can share their fire. He claims to also follow Adar and shows a mark, one of the Wildmen claims that it is not Adar’s brand. Suddenly the man in the background chopping down a tree is thrown forward and is killed by the axe he was using. You can hear groaning and cracking and the camp is attacked by unseen assailants. This could presumably be Ents.

Returning to Khazad-dûm, the food merchants plan to petition the king to open the royal grain reserves. This would give them three months of food. As King Durin III is anticipating an audience with them his son enters. He passes on the information he has received from Celebrimbor. He does make it clear he does not trust the rings. He does however reconcile his relationship with his father.

The episode’s final scenes will take place in Númenor. It is the day of Míriel coronation. As she emerges wearing her white gown, she walks to the stand to hold the sceptre. She is heckled by the crowd, being told she is unfit to rule and the Queen of lies. As she is giving a speech she is interrupted by Eärien. She repeats the message from the king prior to his death and holds out the palantír. The crowd already in the mindset of treachery believes this is what has guided the Queen’s hands and is the catalyst for so much death and loss. Elendil calls for silence and his daughter tosses the palantír down the steps into the crowd.

Sensing his opportunity Pharazôn plays his hand and shouts to the crowd that “The true ruler of Númenor would never place trust in an Elvish artefact.” He orders for the guards to destroy it. Míriel admits ownership of the artefact as she does not wish it to be destroyed. Elendil goes to pick it up but is tossed away by its force. Then suddenly an eagle arrives next to Pharazôn, someone begins to chant his name and then more and more of the crowd follow believing this to be a sign from the Valar.

Review of the Opening Episodes

The first three episodes of the second season of The Rings of Powers offers a visually stunning experience. Unfortunately that is the best that can be said of the opening episodes. It is clear they split up the majority of the characters to give them extra time in episodes to try and delve deeper into each story, however the result is a boring 204 minute tough watch. If they had been released weekly the show would be getting slaughtered even more than it already is for it’s pacing issues.

Hopefully these three episodes did the bulk of the setting up for the series and we will be granted some more action in the next few episodes. Personally I would like to see an improved Gil-Galad, his character seems far off from the source material.

Let us know your thoughts on the episodes in the comments below.